Sniper rifle facts for kids
A sniper rifle is a special type of gun used to shoot targets very accurately from a long distance. A person who uses a sniper rifle in the military is known as a sniper.
Sniper rifles are much more precise than regular rifles. Most sniper rifles have a sniper scope. This is a special telescope that helps snipers see targets far away. There are two main types of sniper rifles.
- Bolt-action rifles fire one shot at a time. The user must manually prepare the next shot.
- Semi-automatic rifles fire one shot each time the trigger is pulled. They automatically get the next shot ready.
Fully automatic rifles, which fire continuously, are usually not used as sniper rifles. However, some heavy machine guns with scopes have been used for very long shots.
Bolt-action rifles often shoot farther and are more accurate. But they fire slower because each shot must be loaded by hand. Semi-automatic rifles fire faster, as quickly as the shooter can pull the trigger. For close ranges or quick follow-up shots, a sniper might choose a semi-automatic rifle.
Some examples of bolt-action sniper rifles are the M40, R700, and M24. Examples of semi-automatic ones include the M21, Dragunov, and the M82 Barret .50 caliber.
What are the different bullet sizes?
Sniper rifles use different bullet sizes, called "caliber." Caliber is the diameter (width) of the bullet. It is measured in fractions of an inch.
- Smallest bullets: Some rifles use small bullets like the .22 inches (5.59 mm) .22 LR (long rifle). These are often used for close-range shots. They might be used with a sound suppressor (often called a silencer). This helps to quietly break street lights or deal with small animals. These bullets are usually too weak for long-range shots or human-sized targets.
- Largest bullets: Other rifles use very large bullets, like the .5 inches (12.7 mm) .50 Browning Machine Gun (BMG) bullet. These are fired from big, heavy sniper rifles. They are often used to destroy light vehicles or equipment. They can shoot over a mile away. However, they are usually too big, less accurate at short ranges, and expensive for everyday use.
Sniper rifle barrels need to be cleaned daily. This removes any liquids or dirt. Not cleaning the barrel can cause serious problems. It could even make the barrel explode when fired.
Famous shots in history
Sniper rifles have been part of important historical events.
- American Revolutionary War: On October 7, 1777, during the Battle of Saratoga, a rifleman named Timothy Murphy made a famous shot. He killed General Simon Fraser of the British army from about 500 yards away. Murphy used a Kentucky long rifle. Fraser's death helped lead to the British defeat in this key battle. This battle was a turning point in the War for Independence.
- Modern History: Sniper rifles were also involved in the deaths of important figures. Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot with a Remington .30-06 rifle. John F. Kennedy was assassinated with a Carcano-type Model 91-38 rifle.
Images for kids
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The bolt-action 7.62×51mm M24 Sniper Weapon System was the standard sniper rifle for the United States Army from 1988 to 2010. It is very accurate up to about 800 meters.
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A German sniper aiming his Karabiner 98k rifle with a Zeiss ZF39 telescopic sight.
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A Russian Model 1891/30 sniper rifle with a PU 3.5×21 sight.
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Vietnam War era sniper rifles: the US Army XM21 (top) and the USMC M40 (bottom).
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A U.S. Marine Corps SRT sniper team with an M24 sniper rifle during training.
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A Macedonian special policeman holding a Zastava M76 sniper rifle.
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Looking through a telescopic sight, which helps snipers see targets far away.
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A Marine manually loads a new 7.62×51mm round into his bolt-action M40A3 sniper rifle.
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The M82A1 SAMR or SASR (Special Applications Scoped Rifle or Semi-Automatic Anti Material Rifle). This .50 caliber rifle is used as a sniper rifle.
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This chart shows how far precision weapons can shoot and how spread out their shots are, according to the US Army.
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The Tango 51 sniper rifle is known for its very high accuracy.
See also
In Spanish: Fusil de francotirador para niños
